Shaquem Griffin to Chargers would bring spark to LB corps

The star of the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis was a prospect who’s been the talk of the pre-NFL draft process. Not because he is projected to be a first-round selection, but because he has been proving all the doubters wrong and inspiring to many people.

That prospect is Shaquem Griffin, the standout linebacker from the University of Central Florida.

Griffin had his left hand amputated at age four due to a congenital disorder, which initially didn’t allow him to receive an invite to the Combine. After months passed by, he finally got an invitation to the event at the end of January and Griffin made the most out of the opportunity on Sunday.

Not only did he complete 20 reps on the bench press with a prosthetic left hand, but he smoked a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, which was the fastest by any LB at the Combine since 2003. The positional work was eye-popping as he demonstrated quick footwork and excellent hip mobility and fluidity with his cuts. Griffin proved that he was one of the most athletically gifted players in this year’s draft class and resembles precisely what Los Angeles could use in their defense.

The Chargers linebacker group underperformed in 2017. Denzel Perryman has yet to play a full 16-game season in three years. Perryman has missed 15 out of 48 games since being drafted in 2015 due to an injury.

The team allowed a league-high 994 rushing yards after contact. A significant contributor in 2016 was Jatavis Brown who took a step back in his playmaking ability in his second season. The Bolts have to figure out how to take advantage of Brown’s unique skill set.

The Chargers lack speed and versatility at the position was apparent early on in 2017, and that problem stuck with them throughout the season. Griffin would bring some needed quickness to L.A.’s defense, as the 40-yard dash time shows he’s the fastest linebacker in this year’s class.

That speed translates onto the field, as Griffin uses his quickness and agility to get involved in every play. It also allows him to burst past the line of scrimmage on pass rushing plays by using his athleticism to get around blockers.

At 6-foot-1 and 227 pounds, he’s powerful when taking on blocks directly and plays bigger than his frame suggests. Griffin is an instinctive player, who takes certain first steps toward the play when he is playing off the football. The former Knight shows an impressive change of direction and is easily able to show blitz, drop in coverage or peel off and defend screen plays and pitches.

While some teams may suggest that his size is too small to play the position, Griffin’s athletic ability cannot be denied. The former UCF product is extremely versatile, as he often served as an edge rusher for the Knights. The Chargers could use a linebacker who is capable of rushing the passer, setting the edge to prevent the run and drop back into coverage.

Here, Griffin shows to be effective spying the QB and mirroring his movement. He works down the line with him and before he gets outside, he's already closing in. Not only did he demonstrate his speed at the Combine, it also translates to the field. pic.twitter.com/INGeEU9VdI

Griffin gets his hands on the tight end, while reading the play. He bounces back outside once he sees the pitch, slips under the block, does a nice job setting the edge, and records a tackle for loss. pic.twitter.com/jk21HNKEAK

Every time I watched UCF, he definitely showed the ability to bend. While he doesn’t have ideal length, he's quick and shows burst off the football. Blitzing will be a huge part of his game at the next level. pic.twitter.com/bFqG10vYTY

Gus Bradley’s defense saw a large number of sub-packages and Griffin could also serve as a hybrid-linebacker, which is the same position that Adrian Philips plays. Philips is currently a free agent, so if they decide to let him walk Griffin would be able to fill in there.

The Florida native will be a project for whoever drafts him, but he’s a player that teams would be foolish to overlook. Griffin is a versatile, fast defender who is a solid pass rusher, exceptional in coverage and most importantly for Los Angeles, can prevent the run.

The Chargers need some spark at the LB position and Griffin would undoubtedly bring those attributes to their defense. Griffin currently projects as a Day 2 selection. While the team is still trying to win fans over in the city of Los Angeles, drafting him could certainly help with that as most are amazed by his journey to the NFL and would only want to follow his path.

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